By Kara Kimbrough I've always loved the Mississippi Gulf Coast for its unending natural beauty stretching as far as the eye can see…among hundreds of other attributes, of course. But there's a feature remains one of the primary reasons I visit as often as possible. It’s the fact that just when I think I’ve seen and explored everything, something different and amazing appears that proves to be a fitting addition to my "favorites list." A recent trip yielded three new finds I’m happy to pass on. First, checking into the stately white-pillared Hotel Pass Christian shaded by leafy oaks feels like stepping into a bygone era, albeit one with modern amenities. When it comes to location, it’s hard to beat a view of the Pass Christian beach, which I’ve always considered one of the most scenic. The picturesque hotel has the good fortune of being situated within walking distance to the beach, restaurants and shops. A lazy bicycle ride to the coffee shop in the morning is also doable; now that it occurs to me, I’m sad I didn’t think of it during my visit. Besides it’s location, Hotel Pass Christian has much more to offer. The spacious 10-bedroom boutique hotel is quiet, private and here’s one of the best parts: features open-air balconies equipped with ceiling fans and comfortable seating when decompression time is needed. Despite forgetting the bike ride, enjoyed both morning and evening quiet time on the balcony enveloped by cool water breezes as the sun rose and later set on the horizon. I didn’t quite make the sunrise, but an early morning coffee on the balcony provided an equally memorable experience. A self check-in suite on the third room afforded optimal views and included a spacious, well-appointed living room (also with a balcony) included a modern wet bar area complete with a refrigerator. A comfortable bedroom leading out to the balcony provided everything needed for a soothing night’s sleep. The adjoining bath offered a walk-in shower, separate tub and vanity area and quickly eradicated past negative hotel experiences involving tiny, cramped spaces. Besides the view, ambience, convenience, location, cleanliness and comfort served up by this unique destination, one of the most surprising aspects of my stay was peace and quiet and for lack of a better description, “hustle and bustle” found at even the most elite full-service hotels. To say that a stay at this hotel is laidback and relaxing is almost under a dire understatement. There’s no crowd, no rushing to and from and despite its close proximity to a busy restaurant and nearby highway, there is simply no noise to speak of. In fact, the quiet was almost deafening as I drifted off to sleep in the large, comfortable guest bed. If spa services are desired, an on-site area offering a variety of treatments can be reserved prior to your stay. While it resembled the photos I’d seen, Hotel Pass Christian surpassed my expectations and, here’s the best part, turned out to be one of those “things I never knew about but now love” about the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Two more places deserve a mention on the list. Although they’re located in the same building in Waveland, they’re distinct and wonderful in their own way. Located in Waveland, Ground Zero Hurricane Museum is housed in a historic building that formerly served as a school and civic center. Like my old high school built in a bygone era, the beautiful brick building contains castle-like features, including distinct merions along the top. Sadly, the sturdy brick structure was the only building left standing on Waveland’s primary street after Hurricane Katrina decimated the town in 2005. In honor of its historical significance and the resilience of both residents and the building, the structure was restored to its original beauty and today serves as a memorial of the disaster that changed the Gulf Coast forever. The small museum located throughout the old school halls and classrooms features permanent and temporary exhibitions with interactive displays and most interesting to me, a diverse collection of memorabilia from the entire Gulf Coast, including framed artifacts, newspapers and photos. After exploring the museum, stop by the in-house bakery and small restaurant for a delicious meal topped by highly-acclaimed desserts and pastries. Sugar Pop Baking Co. and its owner Renee Loranger gained national recognition after she won Food Network’s Halloween Baking Competition. Open 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sugar Pop offers a limited, rotating food and beverage menu that usually includes two lunch specials with options like a smash burger and gourmet sandwiches. The day my friends and I visited, we were lucky enough to find the gigantic smashburger on the lunch menu. Despite the name, this juicy, flavorful burger made with a homemade Brioche bun, special burger sauce and a variety of chopped vegetables was anything but “smashed.” In fact, it was so gargantuan we ended up using a knife and fork…again, a new Coast experience! After lunch, a stop by the bakery cases yielded delicious and creative cakes, cupcakes, pastries and other delicacies that can be enjoyed in the cozy dining area or boxed up for the trip home. Speaking of pastries, I’ve written about my regret for not trying the funnel cakes at Silver Slipper’s Jubilee Buffet located nearby in Bay St. Louis. I can now say I’ve sampled them and they’re much more delicious than anything I remember eating as a child at the State Fair. If you haven’t visited the Gulf Coast recently, this summer is the perfect time to go. If it includes one or all of the experiences I enjoyed, you’ll easily a memorable trip. Feel free to email me if you’d like more information on any of them, including the fabulous Hotel Pass Christian. If You Go: Hotel Pass Christian 116 W. Scenic Drive, Pass Christian, MS 39571 Phone: 228-222-2062 For reservations: www.hotelpasschristian.com Ground Zero Hurricane Museum and Sugar Pop Baking Co. 335 Coleman Ave., Waveland, MS 39576 For information or hours of operation: Museum: 228-467-9012 www.wavelandgroundzero.com Sugar Pop: 228-467-9990 www.sugarpopbakingco.com Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco.com. Sugar Pop Baking Co. serves up delicious lunches and pastries in an historic setting. (Photos courtesy of Sugar Pop Baking Co.)

By me The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) encourages firework safety this Independence Day. The SFMO performs pyrotechnic inspections for shows that are performed on state owned properties. Pyrotechnics companies must apply for a permit for shows.  Once received, the SFMO verifies all information pertaining to insurance, technicians, and local public safety information. Deputies must be on site for the firing of the display and clean up. “It’s up to you to implement your own safety standards when shooting fireworks at home,” said State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney. “That means using common sense, never pointing fireworks at another person, and disposing of fireworks in water to prevent fire.” According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 9,700 people were treated for firework injuries at ERs in 2023. There were eight deaths. There were an estimated 800 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers and 700 with sparklers. To avoid injury, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal suggests you follow these safety tips: •        Observe local laws. o   Those wishing to purchase and use fireworks should first check with their fire protection officials to make sure that local laws are being followed. o   Some municipalities prohibit fireworks from being used within city limits. •        Use common sense: always read and follow the directions on each firework. •        Never point or throw fireworks at another person. •        Buy from reliable fireworks sellers. Store them in a cool, dry place. •        Always have an adult present when shooting fireworks. •        Put used fireworks in a bucket of water and have a hose ready. •        Only use fireworks outdoors, away from homes, dry grass, and trees. •        Light only one item at a time and keep a safe distance. •        Never experiment or attempt to make your own fireworks. •        Never re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks. •        Never give fireworks to small children. •        Never carry fireworks in your pocket. •        Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and FEMA have opened a Disaster Recovery Center in Madison County to help survivors affected by the April 8-11, 2024, severe storms, tornadoes and flooding. Specialists from FEMA, the State of Mississippi and the U.S. Small Business Administration will be at the center to help survivors apply for federal disaster assistance, check the status of their application, answer questions and provide referrals to resources. The center is located at: Karl M. Banks Emergency Services Complex (look for the FEMA and MEMA signage) 1633 West Peace St. Canton, MS 39046 Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The center is closed on Sunday. In addition, the following recovery centers are already open: Hinds County Smith-Wills Stadium parking lot (look for the FEMA and MEMA signage) 1200 Cool Papa Bell Drive Jackson, MS 39216 Hinds County Cleon McKnight Tennis Center parking lot at Hinds Community College (look for the FEMA and MEMA signage) 605 Hinds Blvd. Raymond, MS 39154 This center will close permanently at 6 p.m. on June 25, 2024, but will relocate to serve another location in Hinds County. Humphreys County Humphreys County Multipurpose Building (look for the FEMA and MEMA signage across the street from Willard Jack Trucking) 417 Silver City Road Belzoni, MS 39038 Neshoba County Dixon Volunteer Fire Department (look for the FEMA and MEMA signage) 14800 Highway 21 South Philadelphia, MS 39350 Scott County The Usry Voting Precinct, District 2 Building (look for the FEMA and MEMA signage) 5335 Old Highway 80 Forest, MS 39074 To find the location of all open centers, visit fema.gov/drc To apply for assistance, you must bring the following: • Social Security Number • Insurance Information • Damage Information • Financial Information • Contact Information • Direct Deposit Information MEMA is working with federal and local partners to open more Disaster Recovery Centers in other disaster-declared counties across the state. It is not necessary to visit a center to apply for assistance. Survivors can apply for FEMA assistance by going online to DisasterAssistance.gov, downloading the FEMA mobile app or calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. For the latest information on recovery from the April tornadoes, visit msema.org and www.fema.gov/disaster/4790. On X/Twitter follow MEMA @MSEMA and FEMA Region 4 @femaregion4.

By Bob Garver Back in 2015, Disney and Pixar introduced us to 11-year-old Riley and the squabbling emotions inside her prepubescent head. To make a long story short, Joy (Amy Poehler) tried to retain dominance over the girl, but Sadness (Phyllis Smith) kept creeping her way in. The struggle led to both emotions getting kicked out of Riley’s conscience. Following an adventure through the girl’s psyche, both emotions made their way back and Joy realized that she had to share Riley with other emotions, even unpleasant ones, in order for her to get the most out of life. In this new movie, Riley’s five core emotions want to retain dominance over the girl, but new emotions creep their way in. This leads to a struggle where the old emotions get kicked out of Riley’s conscience. They’ll have to go on an adventure through the girl’s psyche to make their way back and hopefully obliterate the new emotions. Or maybe they’ll learn to share and the message will be exactly the same as in the first movie. For the record, I wasn’t a big fan of the first movie. Don’t get me wrong, I thought it was okay, and it kept the streak of at-least-passable Pixar alive until “Lightyear” two years ago. But setting up this elaborate world of personified emotions led to countless questions that the movie wasn’t prepared to answer, and without answering those questions, it didn’t make sense. Sometimes the nonsense played to its advantage, like a deus ex machina toward the end involving stackable crushes. Other times it hurt the movie, like leaving me wondering if these characters even had lives that were at stake, and what might happen to Riley if those lives were lost. The new movie raises more new questions than it answers, but this time I’m a little more comfortable knowing that the movie is prepared to answer some questions and not others. For the new movie, Riley (Kensington Tallman) is going to hockey camp with her best friends Grace (Grace Lu) and Bree (Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green). Joy is looking forward to guiding her, along with core emotions Sadness, Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Liza Lapira), and Fear (Tony Hale). But Riley hits puberty the night before the camp, ushering in new emotions Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and Ennui (Adele Exarchopoulos). Anxiety proves useful in a few social situations, but clashes with Joy when the latter wants Riley to stay loyal to her old friends, as opposed to endearing herself to the more popular Val (Lilimar). The new emotions banish the old emotions to the back of Riley’s mind until she can be completely reworked. My problem with the movie, other than that the story progression is pretty much the same as the first movie, is once again at the literal level. I can understand a kid with conflicting emotions, but what happens when a kid is missing five of them, as is the case here? If Riley is being controlled by the four new emotions, what’s making her competent at hockey? And why do the filmmakers think that Anxiety doesn’t manifest until puberty? What are young kids famous for saying on car trips? “Arewethereyet? Arewethereyet?” That’s Anxiety, guys. Of course, just as the “Inside Out” movies teach audiences to take the bad with the good, I must remember to take the good with the bad. And there is a lot of good here. The animation is as colorful and delightful as ever, the emotional moments had me feeling for the characters, and the humor consistently hits. My favorite gags involve cartoon characters stuck in the back of Riley’s mind. Video game character Lance (Yong Yea) is another helpful crush of Riley’s, Pouchy (James Austin Johnson) is a little too happy to provide explosives, and Bloofy (Ron Funches) is a fourth-wall breaker with no fourth wall to break (you can practically hear the Disney writers saying, “Take that, Nickelodeon!”). These characters, more than the emotions, were the highlight of this passable Pixar affair. Grade: B- “Inside Out 2” is rated PG for some thematic elements. Its running time is 96 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Don’t kid yourself. You ain’t ever gonna be that strong, that good, or that important! To anyone in your world. No matter how hard you try, or how great you believe that you are. In fact, that attitude can cause you to wear yourself out trying to be the Grand Man In The Cape. And at the same, you just might be coming across as the pompous know-it-all who- thinks-he-can-do-it-all to those around you. Superheroes are just….not. Sure, in the comic strips they can have it all, be it all, while they are doing it all. But I’m pretty sure none of you have ever seen a comic book that was based on your own fantastic looks, your unbelievable strength, and your x-ray repelling body. To say nothing of your genius mind, your amazing capacity for empathy, and your problem-solving abilities. Face it. It’s not worth it. Stop trying to be everything to everyone, in every situation. Take a step back for a while to figure out who you really are. What skills and talents you possess. What areas of life truly interest you. Then break away from the stuff that feels like prison to you. Work? You can change career-direction. Sure, it may mean more education thru night classes, and even a step sideways in finances. But totally worth it. Committee memberships? Bow out gracefully and quickly. Too many church duties? No sane pastor alive would refuse to understand when you explain your predicament. Social obligations? Don’t even get it a second thought of regret when you apologetically remove yourself from the calendar. As I am writing this, the only things that I can think that should hold you with absolutely unbending bands of commitments are your family and your Creator. My point is this. Find you. Then start a rework, tailored to who you really are and what you want to do. Don’t be the person who wakes up one morning and realizes that according to average life span records, you are about ten years from not being around. And what you’ve actually wanted from life is still a tiny speck in the distance. Sure, you did a lot of good stuff. Praiseworthy stuff. Superman stuff. But was it really what God put you here on earth to do? Or were you simply doing what you felt needed to be done? Like I used to tell frustrated and hurting counselees when I was licensed to work in that capacity. “If you keep doing ‘so-n-so,’ simply because it needs to be done, then no one else has to step up and do it. Yes, you’re doing it, and probably doing it very well. But if that is not your calling, just a responsibility you have taken upon yourself, then you may be standing in the way of someone else who needs that work.” Don’t wait too long, Superman or Superwoman. There will come a time when it’s too late.

By me Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced the 165th Mississippi State Fair will be held Thursday, October 3, through Sunday, October 13, at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson. For the first time ever, fairgoers can purchase their tickets online ahead of the 2024 State Fair. “We are excited to announce that tickets to the Mississippi State Fair can be purchased online for the first time in our state’s history,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Families and individuals can now buy their tickets ahead of October for a discounted price, and from the convenience of any laptop or smart device. This year’s State Fair will include several nationally recognized artists and all-new attractions, in addition to all our fairgoers’ favorite rides, events and foods. So I encourage everyone to buy their tickets now and join us for the 165th Mississippi State Fair this fall!” Visitors to the annual Mississippi State Fair can purchase general admission tickets and fair ride wristbands online for the first time in the fair’s history. Pre-sale tickets are available now through October 2 at www.msstatefair.com for $8 per person. Online tickets purchased after October 2, as well as tickets purchased at the gates, will be $10 per person. View a tutorial video on how to easily purchase tickets at https://youtu.be/GGaW6s9JDi8. Commissioner Gipson also announced the headliners for the 2024 Mississippi State Fair as follows: Oak Ridge Boys – Saturday, October 5 Matthew West – Sunday, October 6 Ronnie McDowell – Wednesday, October 9 (Senior American Day) Dru Hill – Friday, October 11 Additional details regarding concerts and special attractions will be forthcoming soon. Visit www.msstatefair.com and follow the Mississippi State Fairgrounds on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

By Kara Kimbrough Newsflash:  Fourth of July 2024 will be a hot one. Since it's a couple of weeks away, I haven’t yet seen the weather report. But I just know it will be hot - maybe because I’ve suffered through numerous steamy hot holidays. But don’t ditch your celebration plans just yet. There are ways to keep your cool when preparing food for your Independence Day feast, regardless of its size. Scratch the plan for outdoor grilling and stay cool indoors by preparing minimal-baked dishes. My keep-your-cool tips include using the Crock-pot to prepare barbecue chicken, ribs and baked beans. Secondly, picking up a prepared salad from the supermarket. After all, who wants to boil potatoes or pasta in this heat? To make a festive flag cake, turning on the oven for about 45 minutes – just long enough to bake the cake base using vanilla or white cake mix (you can make it from scratch if you’re feeling industrious) shouldn’t heat up the kitchen too terribly bad. Top it off with an easy cream cheese frosting and sliced strawberries and blueberries. Or, follow my lead and mix and little confectioner’s sugar into plain ol’ Cool Whip. Just like that, you have a frosting that’s so good you won’t care that it’s semi-homemade. If you'd like the recipe for slow-cooked ribs and my easy-to-make flag cake (or need any additional Independence Day recipes), drop me an email and I’ll send them to you. Happy Independence Day, America! Firecracker Crockpot Barbecued Chicken 4-6 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless 1 bottle of favorite barbecue sauce 1/4 cup vinegar 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon garlic powder Mix barbecue sauce with vinegar, red pepper flakes, brown sugar and garlic powder. Place chicken in crockpot. Pour sauce mixture over chicken. Cook on low 4-6 hours, stirring and flipping chicken periodically. Festive 4th Baked Beans 8 ounces bacon (half of a 16 ounce package) 55-ounce can of favorite baked beans 1 cup diced yellow onion 1/2 cup barbecue sauce 1 tablespoon brown sugar 2 tablespoon yellow mustard 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce Slice the raw bacon into 1/2-inch pieces. Cook on the stove top in a skillet until halfway browned, drain. Add to the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3-1/2 hours. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Serendipity is an annual exhibit and auction featuring artwork created by participants in art classes at Mississippi State Hospital. It is an opportunity for patients and residents to see their art framed and on display, and earn some money when their art is sold during the auction. Serendipity is always held the first Thursday in September, which falls on September 5 this year. Bidding will open online August 1 at www.myminiauction.com/serendipity. This year, the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) is hosting a Serendipity Sneak Peek. The Serendipity exhibit opened on Thursday, June 6th, with a special reception for the artists. Artists arrived at the museum and were greeted with an impressive display of their artwork. Each piece was hung and identified by a museum label that included the artist’s name, name of the piece, materials of the work, and a quote from the artist. Wyatt Waters, renowned watercolor artist, made a surprise visit and viewed the entire collection of artwork. After the viewing, the artists gathered in the Community Room of the MMA for refreshments and were presented with a certificate of recognition mounted in a special Serendipity Sneak Peek folder with a photo of their artwork and personal quote printed inside. The certificates were presented by Lydia Jasper, Assistant Curator of the Permanent Collection and 35th Serendipity Guest Curator, Ceci Whitehurst, MSH Art Services Supervisor, and Ricky Shelby, MSH Art Instructor. Afterwards, Waters worked his way around the room discussing various art topics with the MSH artists. Serendipity Sneak Peek is an ongoing event being held in conjunction with the “What Became of Dr. Smith” exhibit by Noah Saterstrom. The Serendipity Sneak Peek exhibit will be open until August 12. The “Dr. Smith” exhibit will be open until September 22. Through the Access for All: Free First Saturdays initiative, the MMA is offering free admission to all exhibits on the first Saturday of every month until the end of 2026. This initiative is made possible through the Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program, a transformative three-year funding initiative that aims to increase access to museums across America and foster engagement with local audiences. For more information about Serendipity Art Show and Silent Auction, contact MSH Public Relations at 601-351-8018. MSH, a program of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, was founded in 1855 and helps the individuals it serves achieve mental wellness by encouraging hope, promoting safety, and supporting recovery. The hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission.

Gabriella (Gabby) Nuzzo, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Jackson Alliance, was  recognized as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect. Consultant Connect is an international site location consultant coordination firm that serves more than 230 national and international economic development clients. Gabby was recognized as a top economic developer for her leadership and the work she’s doing to promote business retention and growth in the greater Jackson region. Consultant Connect, a consulting agency designed to bridge the gap between economic developers and site consultants, announces its 2024 list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers. The economic development professionals selected for this list were nominated by their colleagues in both the economic development and site location consulting industries for excellent practices, innovation, and success in building the communities they serve. Beginning June 3rd, we'll be shining a spotlight on each of the Top 50 Economic Developers across our selected social media platforms, LinkedIn and Twitter. These individuals will have the chance to provide their industry expertise, leadership insights, and career advice to their peers. At Consultant Connect, we're dedicated to elevating the economic development sector by honoring outstanding professionals like these. On November 21th we'll be presenting the awards to these deserving recipients at our ECONOMIX event in Salt Lake City, UT. “At Consultant Connect, we see economic development as more than just changing communities—it's about creating jobs that touch lives. It's an honor for us to spotlight North America's top economic developers and the impact they make on the communities they serve." The complete list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2024 includes: Andrea Enders- REDI Cincinnati Ann Blair- Miller Roanoke Regional Partnership Antoine Long- City of DeSoto, TX Ashlee Chilton- Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, CEcD Ashley Busada-Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) Becky Harrington- Delaware Prosperity Partnership Benjamin Moore- Community Champion Bert Roach, B.A., MEDP- Woodlands County to be complete by January 2026 and is expected to begin operating in the months to follow. Bethany Hartley- South Bend - Elkhart Regional Partnership William Murphy, IOM, CEcD, EDFP- Ardmore Development Authority Brian Vasa- Nebraska Public Power District Callie Cook- Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Cathleen Flournoy- Missouri Partnership Clark Duncan- Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Daniel Clark- New York City Economic Development Corporation David Putnam, CEcD, CWD- Alamance Chamber Donna Gillespie- Kingston Economic Development Corporation Dylan Horne- Metro Atlanta Chamber Eric Icard- The Right Place Erin Farr- Economic Development Corporation of Utah Erin Silk, CEcD- Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County Gabriella Nuzzo- Greater Jackson Alliance Haley Tomlinson- Duke Energy Corporation Heather C. Smith, EDFP, CPM- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Jennifer Lantz- Wilson Economic Development Council Jose Romano- Economic Development Professional Julie Carrier- Investissement Québec Karthik Avadhanula- JobsOhio Katie Grigar- Tulsa Regional Chamber Keith Lund- Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation Kim Wilmes- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Kimberly Young- KC Animal Health Corridor Kimberly Rossetti- BE NKY Growth Partnership Kyle Wagner- City of Henderson Louis David- New Orleans Business Alliance Marc Valenzuela- Salt River Project Marvin Price- Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Mary Lesa Pegg- Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) Matthew McCollister- One Columbus Michael Talley McKinney- Economic Development Corporation Monique Claiborne- Greater Portland Inc Moriah Williams- Wichita Falls Chamber Peter Milano- Massachusetts Office of Business Development Ray Farley- Alliance Pickens. South Carolina. USA Russell Richardson- Baton Rouge Area Chamber Ryan Smith † -City of Las Vegas Stevie Phillips- Cooperative Energy Tamika Jenkins, CEcD- Hinds County Economic Development Authority Victoria Ross-Frost, CEcD- Indiana Municipal Power Agency William (Skip) Scaggs- North Mississippi Industrial Development Association

By Bob Garver I’m not going to go into a lot of depth about the story in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” Miami detectives Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are back to have another cop adventure. They do some investigating, clash with superiors, run afoul of bad guys, the bad guys endanger their loved ones, and then there’s a big showdown with the bad guys at the end. There’s no suspense in predicting that the movie will stick to that formula. The real suspense comes from wondering what the action scenes will entail, what jokes will be cracked, and, this being a “Bad Boys” movie, how ridiculous it will all be. With that in mind, I have some thoughts… -Will Smith is back! The A-lister’s career has gone through some major ups and downs the past few years, with the pinnacle of each coming at the same Oscars ceremony. He was unofficially suspended from the limelight for a while, but this movie marks his comeback. And I’m glad to have him back, with his blockbuster presence as strong as ever, if not with a sharper edge. Fans are eager to find out if and how the film will address Smith’s real-life bad boy behavior. I’ll give you this tease: someone gets slapped in this movie. -Martin Lawrence is back too. I don’t have much to say for his star power, but I will praise his performance. Marcus suffers a heart attack early in the movie and spends much of his screentime spouting apparent nonsense about his experience in a coma. In the time since I saw this movie, I have encountered no fewer than two individuals on the New York City subway with similar tendencies. They made me appreciate Lawrence’s cadences in this movie. I don’t know if it’s research or just keen observation, but he’s really got it down. -The evil plan of bad guy McGrath (Eric Dane) involves framing Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano), Marcus and Mike’s longtime superior who was killed in the last movie. The plan makes zero sense, since it draws attention and scrutiny to crimes that probably would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Howard himself has a sizeable presence in the movie, with everything from memorial photos and news footage to pre-recorded messages and appearances during near-death experiences. We know the characters miss him, but how can we miss him if he won’t go away? -Howard warns Mike and Marcus that there’s been a decades-long cartel mole in Miami. Realistically, how many characters could this be? Fellow team members played by Vanessa Hudgens and Alexander Ludwig are too young. Howard’s daughter (Rhea Seehorn) is a U.S. Marshall that probably doesn’t even live in Miami. I suppose it could be new captain Secada (Paola Nuñez), but I can’t help but notice that she’s engaged to a smarmy politician (Ioan Gruffudd). Does the movie realize which of these two is the obvious suspect and who would count as subversive? -To get information on the mole, Mike and Marcus have to interview Mike’s imprisoned son Armando (Jacob Scipio) from the last movie. Eventually the three have to work together to combat the bad guys. I was skeptical about bringing Armando back, thinking that the character might not be interesting enough to span multiple movies. But I had nothing to worry about, Scipio makes a good action hero, better than he did a villain. -But Armando’s return has nothing on Reggie (Dennis McDonald), Marcus’s notoriously-bullied, seemingly-unmotivated son-in-law. Turns out Mike isn’t the only one with a family member with action chops. As I was leaving this movie, nobody was talking about Will Smith, everybody was talking about Reggie. And I’ll say that Reggie is just what the movie needs to bump it up to a recommendation. I was on the fence about where I stood on the whole “it’s dumb, but it’s supposed to be dumb” attitude that these movies embrace. But with Reggie, “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” has enough heart to cover the missing brain. Grade: B- “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is rated R for strong violence, language throughout and some sexual references. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Father’s Day has rolled around again. Hmmm…do I write about the importance of Dad in every kid’s life? Giving every daddy-loved adult who reads this the warm fuzzies as they relive and remember how Dad was present and accounted for, as they grew up? But pour boiling oil in the gaping wound of every reader out there whose dad was in the wind during their growing-up years? Do I run the high risk of bringing back to the surface all the pain and resentment of many who were ignored, or outright physically abused? While I am attempting to bring joy and the warmth of great memories to those who were fortunate enough to have a loving, attentive dad at home and involved in their life? Because folks, my quandary is extremely real today. Way too many baby makers – I refuse to call them dads or fathers – have made their pitch, made their deposit, and made their escape. Despicable, damning behavior on the part of those particular males who invariably like to boast, “*&#@ yeah, I’m a man!” I beg to differ with every fiber in my body. No real MAN walks away from his responsibility after his ‘deposit’ has created a life. He accepts that he, and only he, has been party to that baby being brought to this earth. Therefore he - and only he - should step up, man up, and shoulder that responsibility. It is his duty to provide love, financial stability, and emotional security for that child. To be a real daddy. No excuses should be accepted. If you are scared of commitment or simply don’t know how to love, then you better start learning. I am sick of “Remember, he never could hold a job, so somebody else will have to take over,” or “It’s not his fault, he never had a role model to show him how to be a daddy,” or the tired and worn out “Ya just don’t understand, I have a drug problem, no way can I take on bein’ a daddy!” Guys, unless you are a true mental imbecile, who created a life and yet has no mental capacity to think and to love, then you are responsible for that baby. You need to be there for your child. Do you find yourself being offended while reading this article? Then I submit to you that you are part of the problem. If you can actually defend a functioning male who has deliberately walked away from his child and refused to be the daddy that child needs in life, then you are an enabler. An enabler is someone who physically, mentally, or emotionally aids someone else to shirk their responsibilities in life. Whether you are a well-meaning social worker, a relative, or a neighbor who condones this ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ type of behavior, I believe you are wrong. And your actions are helping to cause long-term emotional damage to a defenseless child.

By: Rachel Vanderford The University of Mississippi Medical Center is enhancing its educational infrastructure by establishing a multidisciplinary teaching campus in Ridgeland's Colony Park. This expansion marks a significant step forward in UMMC's commitment to fostering excellence in medical education, research and health care delivery. The development of the Colony Park educational campus will help equip the next generation of health care professionals with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to meet the evolving needs of our communities. As the health care landscape continues to progress, it's imperative that medical education keeps stride with the changes. This new campus will increase academic opportunities for UMMC students and trainees in facilities with health care settings that more closely match those of the providers in which many will eventually be employed outside the academic medical center structure. "Because surgery centers are the model, and we have not had one, a lot of our trainees leave UMMC and have never seen that," said Dr. Alan Jones, associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs. "They don't know the difference in operations because right now, we do all our ambulatory surgeries in the day surgery center at the hospital. From an educational standpoint for both our students and our residents, they need a learning environment that mirrors where they will be practicing." The plan for the approximately 131,000 square-foot educational campus, located on the west side of I-55 North, north of Renaissance at Colony Park, consists of a medical office building, multispecialty ambulatory surgical center, imaging center and multimedia classrooms. When complete, the building will feature two wings with a central lobby entrance. A one-story ambulatory surgery center will be on the right when entering, and a three-story medical office building will be on the left. "This new campus with the outpatient surgery center represents a great opportunity to strengthen both our educational and clinical missions at UMMC," said Dr. Christopher Anderson, James D. Hardy professor and chair of the Department of Surgery and chief of the Division of Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery. "For patients requiring outpatient surgery, this campus will improve their experience significantly while simultaneously improving the educational exposure of our surgery and anesthesia residents and our medical students." The surgical center will have six operating rooms and two procedure rooms as well as diagnostic imaging capabilities including MRI, PET, CT, X-ray and ultrasound. It will feature state-of-the-art facilities for support services, including a full-service lab, pre-operation testing and post-op clinics, occupational therapy and physical therapy, pharmacy and sterile processing. Cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, dermatology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) and plastic surgery are among the specialties that will be represented in the office building. "Ambulatory surgery centers are ubiquitous in the community and in health systems," said Jones. "They are designed so that a patient has easy access to ambulatory procedures. It's a smaller setting that is easier to navigate and the cost structure is lower. What's unique about this one is that it's a multispecialty center. You can come and get eye surgery one day and hand surgery the next." With the evolution of health care offerings and finances, insurance companies are now encouraging patients to undergo these types of procedures in an ambulatory surgery center rather than in hospitals. "They expect health systems to have this type of an environment when it comes to these relatively minor surgeries," said Jones. "It's a lower cost structure than a hospital and payers don't want to pay a hospital rate for an ambulatory surgery. From a health care perspective, being able to offer that to our patients is better." Construction on the new campus is slated to be complete by January 2026 and is expected to begin operating in the months to follow.